Millions lack shelter after Pakistan floods

KARACHI, Aug 21, AFP With entire towns and villages swallowed up by Pakistan's devastating floods, experts say it could take years to solve a shelter crisis now facing up to six million people camped out under open skies.

The catastrophic floods swamped a fifth of Pakistan area the size of England and affected 20 million people in the country's worst ever natural disaster with untold economic, social and political repercussions.

"It is a huge task. It is large-scale devastation, which needs huge money and time to rebuild.... The scenario is bleak and our politicians don't realise the gravity of the situation," independent economist A.B.

Shahid told AFP.

"We need at least three billion dollars just to rebuild huts and houses," Shahid said.

"And not less than seven billion dollars more to restore destroyed infrastructure, to build roads, bridges, canals and government offices." The United Nations said on Saturday it had increased its estimate of the number of people without shelter to six million and it has tripled to six million its target for assistance in the form of tents and plastic sheeting.

Few words can express the misery.

"Everything has been wasted. Nothing is left," said Qasim Bhayyo, 45, a refugee from Qayyas Bhayyo village in one of the worst-hit parts of the southern province of Sindh, formerly known for rice crops and fish farms.

"I saw my house of wood and mud washed away. I saw grain and flour. We stockpiled food for months. It was all destroyed. We had no way to save our goats and buffaloes stranded in the water and crying," Bhayyo said.

The Asian Development Bank said it would provide two billion dollars to repair roads, bridges, power lines, homes, schools, medical facilities and farm structures, and the World Bank has promised to lend 900 million dollars.

The floods have washed away landmarks and official records, making it even more difficult for authorities and the owners to judge the location, length and breadth of plots and houses.

"Landmarks have gone, government buildings and streets and roads have vanished... nothing is left in many towns and villages, which will worsen the situation even more and eventually delay reconstruction," Shahid said.

The United Nations believes hundreds of thousands of people are still on the move. Not all the 4.6 million can be considered technically "homeless" because they may find homes to return to when the flood waters recede.

But Tasneem Siddiqui, a housing consultant and former head of Sindh housing schemes, fears that red-tape, inefficiency, an unpopular administration and corrupt politicians could put rehabilitation back by years.

"The fact is our government is inactive and our bureaucracy disorganised. They shouldn't take on the entire process of rehabilitation.

Instead clear the flooded areas and involve communities in self-help," Siddiqui told AFP.

He is optimistic that the number of houses completely destroyed could be fewer than many fear.

"The correct situation will only become apparent when a survey is conducted after the waters recede," he told AFP3.

Instead of dolling out compensation to build homes, the government would do better to kickstart the process by giving farmers free fertilisers and seeds, by providing interest-free crop loans and improving the drainage system.

"Once they are economically rehabilitated, Pakistan's rural people can help each other in building their homes. Even 500 dollars per family could help them reconstruct their home by themselves."

Anwer Rashid, a director at the Orangi Pilot Project, which provides low-cost sanitation, health, housing and microfinance in impoverished areas, said it plans to build 5,000 low-cost houses for flood-affected people.

"We estimate 19,000 rupees (220 dollars) are required to construct one shanty house. We're busy generating money to provide as many houses to people as we can," Rashid said.

But that is little comfort for Ali Murad, 25, a teacher from Thul town in northern Sindh. He and his family lost their concrete home.

"We sat on the roof until the navy saved us. When we were leaving, I saw the water had reached the roof.

"We have no money and no resources to build again. It's going to take a long time to regain what I had. I don't even know when it'll happen," he said.